Other machinery question

Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:54 pm

I don't know if this was meant for my question.I have an old style Stihl FS 80 Brushcutter.Roughly 1982 vintageI love that machine.

However, parts are difficult to get.My problem is the carb.Couldn't keep it running. I could get it to start but not keep runningTook it to the shop and they told me the carb is worn out and can't be rebuilt.Found one on Ebay from a guy that has used ones.Got it and put it on and couldn't even get it to fire.Shop, again. Was told that carb is no good.

The carbs for that are scarce as hen's teeth.

I believe it is a TK10.

Anyone have any insights?To buy something roughly equivalent (but not really) would be $600

One thing I liked was the weedhead with the plastic knives which won't work on newer ones.String never worked well for me.

Re: Other machinery question

Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:49 pm

Larry:

And I thought I was the only one with that problem. I have been watching for a couple years in the hopes that I can get my FS-80 up and running again. Man I love that trimming saw, weed-eater -- almost chain saw... what a great rig. There is no way I can get a replacement to do the same jobs for under $600.00 to $800.00. Roger has been trying to talk me into it, but nope, I can buy a parts Cub for that price Carbs are scarce and so are the valves and a few other parts.

Re: Other machinery question

Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:59 pm

They tell me my compression is good.Just no carb

Re: Other machinery question

Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:06 pm

Shindawa uses the TK-10 Carb for some of their weedeaters. Not sure if that will fit or not.

I am not sure if carbs are still available.. most likely not. I am fast coming to the conclusion that my FS 80 may be nothing but yard art

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:31 am

Thanks, RudiI'll check it out.

Seems I may have checked Shindawa out but that would have been a while backIt's a shame these fine machines have to become yard ornaments

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:30 am

I know. It was the best brushcutter/trimmer I have ever had. One thing that I am doing though is that I have a want at my local Small Engine Shops. I have asked them to keep an eye out for a parts machine that has a good engine/carb and a trashed front end. To me that is the best chance to bring my FS 80 back from yard art status.

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:06 pm

Have you taken the weed eater to a dealership with factory trained employees, that only works on Stihl products?

Have the feeling that the really old guy in the shop could tell you which Walbro or Zama carburetor would exchange and work on your machine.

Flipping through the Prime Line parts catalog, 7 pages of 2 cycle carburetor parts, there appears to be hundreds if not a thousand different Walbro carburetors for 2 cycle engines.

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:15 pm

Eugene:

Yup, my dealer is a Stihl dealer with factory trained service people. Also Roger had sourced some parts for me (the bulb) and found that none were available in North America. He did find one (NOS) on a shelf at one of the dealers in Germany and had it sent through the system to us. Took 9 months to find that bulb. The carb used on the FS 80 is not the Walbro. It is either the TK-10 or in some cases depending on what year the FS80 was built the Shindawa may have been used as Stihl did contract out assembly to Shin for the homeowner version of the FS80 - typically the FS80AVE. Mine is the FS80AV which is the pro series - straight shaft. Those parts are NLA.

That Larry's is identical to mine as mine is also an '82. His should be an FS80AV as well. Course I could be wrong...

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:28 pm

I have to retrieve mine from the shop that couldn't fix it.All I could ever find on mine was FS 80. There didn't seem to be any AVE or AV on the plate

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:31 pm

Larry:

Is it a straight shaft or is it the curved shaft?

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:38 pm

It is a straight shaft

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:46 pm

I replaced my FS 80's with FS 130R trimmers. I still run my FS 80 trimmers and the Auto Cut Trimmer line spools are the same and inter change just fine, as for knives, I DO NOT KNOW, as I don't have that attachment on my stuff. I run 2 of each with my lawn mowing buisness, I have rebuilt the carbs on the FS 80's atleast once or twice and they continue to keep running good for me. I bought the fs 80's in the early 90's also. They are all good machines. I wouldn't go with anything else.

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:58 pm

Okay then. That is the same model that I have, just a bit earlier... mine was marketed for the professional thinner from what I understand. Gonna talk to Roger. Will let you know what else I find out.

It ain't cheap but hey, this saw is worth the price. Looks like a NOS part on top of that - new in the box.

While talking to Roger he said to me that almost any 25cc to 30cc Walbr carburetor should work provided the bolts line up. Might have to mickey mouse aka redo the linkages for the throttle but that shouldn't be a big deal. However if you get the one above.. it is a simple bolt on. Since I only need the bulb - I will pass on this and leave it to you as you need it more than I do. Roger is going to give me a hand to see what we can do with my Stihl over the winter. Oh yeah, he also said that there are still a few parts for the engine available in the Stihl pipeline but they are not cheap of course.

I hope this helps. Let me know what you do/decide.

If anyone has an extra bulb they aren't doing anything with I would appreciate it

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:23 pm

Rudi, great find.I ended up picking it up.Hope I didn't step on your toes.If so, let me know and I'll let you have it

Re: Other machinery question

Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:39 pm

Larry:

Nope, you didn't step on me toes ... as I said

Rudi wrote: I will pass on this and leave it to you as you need it more than I do.

I simply need the bulb if Roger and I remember correctly. While I was at it I decided to re search and found these results from this search string - stihl fs80. Shocked the heck out of me. All of my previous searches usually ended up with not so good results.

Let me know if the carb solves the problem -- and yeah --- of you and your Stihl in operation